ALBAWABA - A report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) revealed that a formal designation expected to be announced on Wednesday relisting the Yemeni militant group, the Houthis, as specially designated global terrorists.
The WSJ report cited U.S. officials who revealed plans of the Biden administration's intention to relist Yemen's Houthis group as specially designated global terrorists.
This move comes shortly after the U.S. started responding to the Houthis attacks in the Red Sea on trade vessels crossing through Bab al-Mandab Strait through the Gulf of Aden.
The Red Sea is a critical commercial waterway, connecting the Mediterranean Sea via Egypt's Suez Canal with the Gulf of Aden.
In November, the White House said had initiated a review of potential terror designations for the Houthi group. Later on in December, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the creation of a multinational coalition to counter the attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
In January 2021, the administration of then-President Donald Trump designated the Houthis as a "foreign terrorist organization". However, the Biden administration reversed the designation one month later, citing humanitarian concerns in Yemen.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea
In the most recent series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a Malta-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea, while the US says it has launched a new strike on Houthi targets amid rising tensions around the key waterway.
"A Malta-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier was reportedly targeted and impacted with a missile while transiting the southern Red Sea northbound," maritime risk management firm Ambrey said in an alert on Tuesday.
Yahya Sarea, Houthis’ military spokesperson, said in a statement that they targeted the Zografia ship with naval missiles on Tuesday as it was heading to Israel, resulting in a "direct hit".
